News Items......
2022
Ontario’s main parties are pledging to restore Northlander train service. Voters are worried they may be taken for a ride — again
Even a decade later, feelings about the loss of the 110-year-old rail link are still raw.
By Kristin Rushowy Queen's Park Bureau Sun., May 15, 2022
NORTH BAY — Northerners hope they aren’t being taken for a ride.
All four major parties are promising that the Northlander trains — axed in 2012 by the then-Liberal government looking to cut costs — will get back on track if they are elected.
2023
Jan 11: From promises to purchase order! - Lucille Frith | Commentary
‘Twas the week before Christmas and Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation was at the North Bay train station to announce the purchase of three train sets for our Northlander route. No longer a promise but a $139,500,000 purchase order for three Siemens trainsets to be delivered by 2026. - LINK to full article
2021
June 19: Join us for an online meeting with special guest Corina Moore, CEO of Ontario Northland
The Northeastern Ontario Rail Network and Transport Action Ontario welcome publication of the long-awaited Initial Business Case for restoring Northeastern Passenger Rail Service by MTO and Ontario Northland on May 25th, and we are encouraged that the Government of Ontario plans to move forward with the restoration of passenger rail service based on the clear social equity need for this service and whole-economy spin-off benefits for the north. To explain what this announcement means for the region, and what the next steps will be, Corina Moore, CEO of Ontario Northland, will be joining us for a live webinar on Wed. June 23rd at 11 a.m. - LINK
June 17: Virtual Town Hall on Passenger Rail with Corina Moore, NEORN co-chair Lucille Frith, and MPP Norm Miller - LINK
April 22: 3 things to know about Gravenhurst council's passenger rail resolution
Gravenhurst joins Huntsville, North Bay in supporting the Northlander's return - LINK
April 19: 'It just makes so much sense': Muskoka advocates confident in passenger rail's return
Education, health care, tourism, environment, among benefits of rail: advocates - LINK
Mar 24: Supporting passenger rail service in the north is in the 2021 Ontario budget!! It took 8½ years of advocating for the return of the Northlander - LINK
Quoted from Page 106 Ontario Budget 2021:
"Ontario is committed to reviewing initiatives to meet transportation needs in the North to
optimize bus services and to develop options for passenger rail services across Northern Ontario. In keeping with the draft Transportation Plan for Northern Ontario, the government is accelerating work to examine safety and infrastructure needs for potential future passenger rail service between Toronto, North Bay, Timmins and Cochrane. Ontario is investing $5 million to support planning and design work. An initial business case is being finalized and is expected to be released in spring 2021."
Feb 25: Survey Results from Government of Ontario
Consultation: Transportation opportunities along the northeastern Ontario rail corridor - Link
Jan 31: NEORN Budget Release
The Upcoming Ontario Budget: Where is the funding for the Northlander Passenger Train? - Link
2020
Dec 11: The Ministry of Transportation announced their draft northern transportation plan. The draft states they are "Continuing to move forward on (their) plan for passenger rail services including advancing track audit work along the northeastern rail corridor". - Link
Oct 23: Ontario Seeking Feedback on Improving Transportation in the Northeast - Survey Will Help Explore Transportation Needs and Opportunities - Link
April 7: Ontario Northland Transportation Commission has a new boss - Link
2019
Nov 13: Northeastern Ontario Rail Network update on return of passenger rail & Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat - Link
June 25: Passenger rail promise will be fulfilled, Fedeli vows: 'There is a tremendous amount of work to do, but we're getting there' - Link
June 19: City council supports idea of ministry change for the ONTC - Link
June 7: Ontario Northland union boss favours Metrolinx alliance - Link
June 6: ONTC 'fully committed' to rail passenger service - Link
Mar 1: Premier Ford Talk Muskoka Passenger Rail - Link
Feb 28: Muskoka Pass Rail and an Election Promise - Link
Feb 22: Finance Minister supports return of passenger rail to central and northern Ontario Link
Feb 21: Passenger Rail Service Could Return To Muskoka - Link
Feb 19: Will Promises be Kept? - Link
Feb 18: Will PC's make investment as promised - Link
Feb 17: Fedeli: Return of Passenger Trains Not Dead - Link
Feb 17: Letter to Ministers Yurek, Rickford & Fedeli - Link
Feb 10: Restore Northlander, province urged - Link
Feb 6: Ontario budget about to come out - make your say!
2018
Nov 13: Northern Rail Plan Overdue - Link
Nov 13: Train Jump Tracks - Link
Nov 12: Rail Advocates Want Govt Involvement - Link
Oct 22: Ford's Northlander Train Waffling..... - Link
Oct 18: VIA Rail's Canadian: Death by a thousand CN blows? - Read
Oct 16: Premier pressed on Northern rail promise - Read
Oct 12: Media Release from NEORN - Read
Sept 15: Actions to move Northern Ontario forward: Response to the Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy - Read
July 28: Announcing Pilot Project to Attract Muskoka Cottagers
to travel via combined Go-Train and ONR bus services
Story#1 Story#2 Story#3 Video#1
June 7: Candidates talk about Rail Service - Read
Apr 22: Passenger Rail Summit Very Successful! - Read
Mar 22: Agriculture rail siding facility being studied.
Mar 19: Summit Meeting on April 19 at Sault Ste, Marie - Read
Starting in March - Discovery's new original Canadian series “Rocky Mountain Railroad” will feature some northern Ontario stories - read1 read2
Feb 16 - Who, What is Northern Ontario? - read
Feb 4 - It's Political Promises Season! - read
Feb 3 - NDP, PC would bring back Northlander - read
Jan 28- Media release from North Eastern Ontario Rail Network - read
Jan 25 -Is the return of the Northlander passenger train a reality?- read
Extra! - President of Ontario Northland Railway makes cover page - read
Jan 18- FONOM seeking Northern Ontario Platforms from Party Leaders - read
2017
Dec 19 - Four Advocacy Groups: Restoring Passenger Rail Service - media release.
Dec 14 - North Bay City calls for Northern Rail Passenger Service - read
Dec 14 - Does the North needs the Northlander? - read
Nov 26 - PC Party Platform includes promises for the North - read
Nov 7 - Committee Promoting Muskoka Rail Travel (CPMRT) - media release
Nov 7 - NDP election promise: story
Sept 15 - CPMRT comment on NOMTS - media release
Ontario’s main parties are pledging to restore Northlander train service. Voters are worried they may be taken for a ride — again
Even a decade later, feelings about the loss of the 110-year-old rail link are still raw.
By Kristin Rushowy Queen's Park Bureau Sun., May 15, 2022
NORTH BAY — Northerners hope they aren’t being taken for a ride.
All four major parties are promising that the Northlander trains — axed in 2012 by the then-Liberal government looking to cut costs — will get back on track if they are elected.
2023
Jan 11: From promises to purchase order! - Lucille Frith | Commentary
‘Twas the week before Christmas and Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation was at the North Bay train station to announce the purchase of three train sets for our Northlander route. No longer a promise but a $139,500,000 purchase order for three Siemens trainsets to be delivered by 2026. - LINK to full article
2021
June 19: Join us for an online meeting with special guest Corina Moore, CEO of Ontario Northland
The Northeastern Ontario Rail Network and Transport Action Ontario welcome publication of the long-awaited Initial Business Case for restoring Northeastern Passenger Rail Service by MTO and Ontario Northland on May 25th, and we are encouraged that the Government of Ontario plans to move forward with the restoration of passenger rail service based on the clear social equity need for this service and whole-economy spin-off benefits for the north. To explain what this announcement means for the region, and what the next steps will be, Corina Moore, CEO of Ontario Northland, will be joining us for a live webinar on Wed. June 23rd at 11 a.m. - LINK
June 17: Virtual Town Hall on Passenger Rail with Corina Moore, NEORN co-chair Lucille Frith, and MPP Norm Miller - LINK
April 22: 3 things to know about Gravenhurst council's passenger rail resolution
Gravenhurst joins Huntsville, North Bay in supporting the Northlander's return - LINK
April 19: 'It just makes so much sense': Muskoka advocates confident in passenger rail's return
Education, health care, tourism, environment, among benefits of rail: advocates - LINK
Mar 24: Supporting passenger rail service in the north is in the 2021 Ontario budget!! It took 8½ years of advocating for the return of the Northlander - LINK
Quoted from Page 106 Ontario Budget 2021:
"Ontario is committed to reviewing initiatives to meet transportation needs in the North to
optimize bus services and to develop options for passenger rail services across Northern Ontario. In keeping with the draft Transportation Plan for Northern Ontario, the government is accelerating work to examine safety and infrastructure needs for potential future passenger rail service between Toronto, North Bay, Timmins and Cochrane. Ontario is investing $5 million to support planning and design work. An initial business case is being finalized and is expected to be released in spring 2021."
Feb 25: Survey Results from Government of Ontario
Consultation: Transportation opportunities along the northeastern Ontario rail corridor - Link
Jan 31: NEORN Budget Release
The Upcoming Ontario Budget: Where is the funding for the Northlander Passenger Train? - Link
2020
Dec 11: The Ministry of Transportation announced their draft northern transportation plan. The draft states they are "Continuing to move forward on (their) plan for passenger rail services including advancing track audit work along the northeastern rail corridor". - Link
Oct 23: Ontario Seeking Feedback on Improving Transportation in the Northeast - Survey Will Help Explore Transportation Needs and Opportunities - Link
April 7: Ontario Northland Transportation Commission has a new boss - Link
2019
Nov 13: Northeastern Ontario Rail Network update on return of passenger rail & Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat - Link
June 25: Passenger rail promise will be fulfilled, Fedeli vows: 'There is a tremendous amount of work to do, but we're getting there' - Link
June 19: City council supports idea of ministry change for the ONTC - Link
June 7: Ontario Northland union boss favours Metrolinx alliance - Link
June 6: ONTC 'fully committed' to rail passenger service - Link
Mar 1: Premier Ford Talk Muskoka Passenger Rail - Link
Feb 28: Muskoka Pass Rail and an Election Promise - Link
Feb 22: Finance Minister supports return of passenger rail to central and northern Ontario Link
Feb 21: Passenger Rail Service Could Return To Muskoka - Link
Feb 19: Will Promises be Kept? - Link
Feb 18: Will PC's make investment as promised - Link
Feb 17: Fedeli: Return of Passenger Trains Not Dead - Link
Feb 17: Letter to Ministers Yurek, Rickford & Fedeli - Link
Feb 10: Restore Northlander, province urged - Link
Feb 6: Ontario budget about to come out - make your say!
2018
Nov 13: Northern Rail Plan Overdue - Link
Nov 13: Train Jump Tracks - Link
Nov 12: Rail Advocates Want Govt Involvement - Link
Oct 22: Ford's Northlander Train Waffling..... - Link
Oct 18: VIA Rail's Canadian: Death by a thousand CN blows? - Read
Oct 16: Premier pressed on Northern rail promise - Read
Oct 12: Media Release from NEORN - Read
Sept 15: Actions to move Northern Ontario forward: Response to the Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy - Read
July 28: Announcing Pilot Project to Attract Muskoka Cottagers
to travel via combined Go-Train and ONR bus services
Story#1 Story#2 Story#3 Video#1
June 7: Candidates talk about Rail Service - Read
Apr 22: Passenger Rail Summit Very Successful! - Read
Mar 22: Agriculture rail siding facility being studied.
Mar 19: Summit Meeting on April 19 at Sault Ste, Marie - Read
Starting in March - Discovery's new original Canadian series “Rocky Mountain Railroad” will feature some northern Ontario stories - read1 read2
Feb 16 - Who, What is Northern Ontario? - read
Feb 4 - It's Political Promises Season! - read
Feb 3 - NDP, PC would bring back Northlander - read
Jan 28- Media release from North Eastern Ontario Rail Network - read
Jan 25 -Is the return of the Northlander passenger train a reality?- read
Extra! - President of Ontario Northland Railway makes cover page - read
Jan 18- FONOM seeking Northern Ontario Platforms from Party Leaders - read
2017
Dec 19 - Four Advocacy Groups: Restoring Passenger Rail Service - media release.
Dec 14 - North Bay City calls for Northern Rail Passenger Service - read
Dec 14 - Does the North needs the Northlander? - read
Nov 26 - PC Party Platform includes promises for the North - read
Nov 7 - Committee Promoting Muskoka Rail Travel (CPMRT) - media release
Nov 7 - NDP election promise: story
Sept 15 - CPMRT comment on NOMTS - media release